I had a first meeting with my CT on Monday 27 September, but it was not during a class. We will try to arrange a class visit later in this week, but it may be the beginning of the next week.
Observation/Reflection #1: Starting From the Beginning
During this observation, focus on how class begins. Where is your CT before class begins? What is he or she doing? Using the clock on the wall, determine when your CT establishes order and begins class. How did she/he start their lesson? How is homework from the previous night reviewed/collected/assessed? How does your CT engage students during the opening of the lesson
First actual class observation is for Tuesday 5 October. I stayed from 0700 to 1300 for several classes, one chemistry and two sections of physics. The regular schedule was impacted by NECAP testing so some classes were longer or shorter than normal.
Teacher is at the front usually standing when students arrive, gives them a minute to find seats and gets right to business. He reviews homework, going over the whole assignment of problems, asking if anyone had a problem and needs to see it worked. If so he invites other students to give the solution. This goes pretty quickly.
Students are responsible for keeping their homework, and it is collected and reviewed at intervals. They are reminded that it is worth about a letter on their grade, so it is important to keep it in good order.
The emphasis seemed not on how many got things right or wrong, but on making sure everyone gets it before moving on to new work.
One class had a returned test, and he followed the same procedure. Since there was always someone who had it right, this also went quickly. Here too the emphais is on everyone getting it.
Discipline seems a non-issue; he is a coach for several sports, this turns out to be VERY GOOD because
when he tells the class to turn to page 37 or whatever, they all do it, at once. He expects nothing less, and none of them would dream of doing less.
Observation/Reflection #1: Starting From the Beginning
During this observation, focus on how class begins. Where is your CT before class begins? What is he or she doing? Using the clock on the wall, determine when your CT establishes order and begins class. How did she/he start their lesson? How is homework from the previous night reviewed/collected/assessed? How does your CT engage students during the opening of the lessonFirst actual class observation is for Tuesday 5 October. I stayed from 0700 to 1300 for several classes, one chemistry and two sections of physics. The regular schedule was impacted by NECAP testing so some classes were longer or shorter than normal.
Teacher is at the front usually standing when students arrive, gives them a minute to find seats and gets right to business. He reviews homework, going over the whole assignment of problems, asking if anyone had a problem and needs to see it worked. If so he invites other students to give the solution. This goes pretty quickly.
Students are responsible for keeping their homework, and it is collected and reviewed at intervals. They are reminded that it is worth about a letter on their grade, so it is important to keep it in good order.
The emphasis seemed not on how many got things right or wrong, but on making sure everyone gets it before moving on to new work.
One class had a returned test, and he followed the same procedure. Since there was always someone who had it right, this also went quickly. Here too the emphais is on everyone getting it.
Discipline seems a non-issue; he is a coach for several sports, this turns out to be VERY GOOD because
when he tells the class to turn to page 37 or whatever, they all do it, at once. He expects nothing less, and none of them would dream of doing less.